Storage of household firearms: an examination of the attitudes and beliefs of married women with children.

Although safe firearm storage is a promising injury prevention strategy, many parents do not keep their firearms unloaded and locked up. Using the theory of planned behavior as a guiding conceptual framework, this study examines factors associated with safe storage among married women with children and who have firearms in their homes. Data come from a national telephone survey (n=185). We examined beliefs about defensive firearm use, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and firearm storage practices. A Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test was conducted to assess associations between psychosocial factors and firearm storage practices. Women were highly motivated to keep firearms stored safely. Those reporting safe storage practices had more favorable attitudes, more supportive subjective norms and higher perceptions of behavioral control than those without safe storage. One-fourth believed a firearm would prevent a family member from being hurt in case of a break-in, 58% believed a firearm could scare off a burglar. Some 63% said they leave decisions about firearm storage to their husbands. Women were highly motivated to store firearms safely as evidenced by favorable attitudes, supportive subjective norms and high perceptions of behavioral control. This was especially true for those reporting safer storage practices.

Deaths from violence in North Carolina, 2004: how deaths differ in females and males.

OBJECTIVE: To identify gender differences in violent deaths in terms of incidence, circumstances, and methods of death. DESIGN: Analysis of surveillance data. SETTING: North Carolina, a state of 8.6 million residents on the eastern seaboard of the US. SUBJECTS: 1674 North Carolina residents who died from violence in the state during 2004. METHODS: Information on violent deaths was collected by the North Carolina Violent Death Reporting System using data from death certificates, medical examiner reports, and law enforcement agency incidence reports. RESULTS: Suicide and homicide rates were lower for females than males. For suicides, females were more likely than males to have a diagnosis of depression (55% v 36%), a current mental health problem (66% v 42%), or a history of suicide attempts (25% v 13%). Firearms were the sole method of suicide in 65% of males and 42% of females. Poisonings were more common in female than male suicides (37% v 12%). Male and female homicide victims were most likely to die from a handgun or a sharp instrument. Fifty seven percent of female homicides involved intimate partner violence, compared with 13% of male homicides. Among female homicides involving intimate partner violence, 78% occurred in the woman's home. White females had a higher rate of suicide than African-American females, but African-American females had a higher rate of homicide than white females. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence, circumstances, and methods of fatal violence differ greatly between females and males. These differences should be taken into account in the development of violence prevention efforts.

Review of evaluations of educational approaches to promote safe storage of firearms.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review evaluation studies of educational interventions promoting safe firearm storage. METHODS: Medline, ERIC, PsycINFO, Criminal Justice Periodicals Index, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Sociofile were searched. The references from each potentially eligible study were checked, and experts in the field were contacted for additional reports. In addition, an internet search was performed to identify programs not published in the conventional literature. Sources relevant to safe firearm storage promotion were selected and evaluated. RESULTS: Seven studies met inclusion criteria: adult subjects, program description was included, and firearm storage outcomes were measured. One was a randomized controlled trial and the other six were one group pre-test and/or post-test. The studies were classified into the following categories based on the intervention strategies used: (1). counseling and firearm safety materials (n=3); (2). counseling/educational message (n=3); and (3). firearm safety materials distribution (n=1). The outcomes were safe firearms storage (firearms locked up and unloaded or removal from home) after intervention. Four studies, three using counseling and materials distribution, reported improved storage after the interventions. CONCLUSIONS: It is not yet clear what types of interventions, or which specific intervention components, prompt gun owners to securely store their weapons. Increased understanding of gun storage behaviors and stronger evaluation designs will aid further understanding of this important issue.

Law enforcement officers' opinions about gun locks: anchors on life jackets?

OBJECTIVES: One way law enforcement officers support firearm safety is by promoting the use of gun locks. This investigation examined law enforcement officers' willingness to use gun locks on their own guns, as well as their opinions regarding gun locks in general. SETTING: Law enforcement officers from an urban agency in the southern region of the United States. METHODS: Free keyed cable gun locks were distributed to all law enforcement officers in one agency who wanted one, and then an anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted about their subsequent use of, and attitudes toward, these devices. RESULTS: About half of the 207 officers collected gun locks (n=103). Nearly three quarters (73%) completed and returned the questionnaire. Two thirds reported that they were not using the gun lock they collected (65%), and over half disagreed that gun lock use should be required (56%). Very few cited any actual or potential technical problems with the device. An important reason given for non-use of gun locks related to being able to access the weapon quickly in case of an emergency. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the need for further investigation into law enforcement officers' attitudes toward gun locks, the degree to which their attitudes affect their firearm safety counseling, and the need to develop a gun safety device that can be disengaged quickly.

Firearm storage practices of officers in a law enforcement agency in the South.

BACKGROUND: Law enforcement officers play an important role in promoting firearm safety. This study examined their firearm-related attitudes and practices. METHODS: We conducted an anonymous, self-administered survey of law enforcement officers in an agency in the South concerning firearm ownership, storage practices, and opinions. RESULTS: The 207 respondents (response rate=71%) were primarily white (60%) and male (89%). The proportions of respondents with (55%) and without (45%) children were similar. Eighty percent of the officers had firearms in addition to the one they were issued for work. Most stored firearms unlocked (59%) and loaded (68%); almost half (44%) reported storing firearms both unlocked and loaded. Eighty-five percent indicated that they felt an added need to protect themselves and family because of their job. Those who reported having firearms for self-protection were less likely than those who had firearms for recreation to store firearms securely. As compared to those without children, law enforcement officers with children were more likely to store firearms safely, and were especially likely to store firearms locked up (chi(2)=12.72, p<0.0001). Respondents favored background checks, mandatory safety training, and enforcement of storage laws. Three quarters approved of government safety regulations for handguns. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the law enforcement officers' prominent role in firearm safety promotion and support for initiatives that limit unauthorized access, our study found that many do not practice safe storage. Apparently, many officers keep their firearms stored unlocked and loaded for the purpose of protecting themselves and their families. Addressing concerns about personal safety is a necessary step in promoting safe storage to law enforcement officers.

"Love our kids, lock your guns": a community-based firearm safety counseling and gun lock distribution program.

BACKGROUND: Safer storage practices may reduce injury rates by limiting youth access to firearms. OBJECTIVE: To determine if a firearm safety counseling and gun lock distribution program improved storage practices. DESIGN: Community-based before-after trial. SETTING: Urban county in central North Carolina. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred twelve adult gun owners recruited through a mass media advertising campaign. INTERVENTION: In the parking lot of a shopping mall, participants completed a survey, and were then provided with tailored counseling, gun safety information, a gun lock, and instructions to use it. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Firearm storage practices, assessed by survey and personal interview (baseline) and telephone interview (6-month follow-up). RESULTS: Most participants were white (62%), men (63%), had children (58%), and owned a gun for protection (74%). At follow-up, of the 82 participants, 63 (77%) (up from 39 [48%]) reported storing their gun(s) in a locked compartment (P =.004), 59 (72%) (up from 0) reported using gun locks (P =.001), 61 (74%) (up from 57 [69%]) reported storing their ammunition locked in a separate location, 59 (72%) (up from 52 [63%]) reported storing their gun(s) unloaded, and 6 (7%) (down from 15 [18%]) reported storing firearms unlocked and loaded. Participants with children were more likely at baseline to store weapons unlocked and loaded (38 [59%] vs 19 [41%]; P =.02) but were more likely after counseling to lock their weapons (29 [58%] vs 14 [44%]) and remove guns from the home (5 [10%] vs 0 [0%]). CONCLUSIONS: This program prompted reporting of safer firearm storage practices, particularly among parents. Longer follow-up, verification of self-reports and correct use, testing of gun locks, and monitoring firearm injury rates after distribution programs are needed to establish the public health potential of this approach.

The African-American church: a potential forum for adolescent comprehensive sexuality education.

PURPOSE: To investigate the attitudes and beliefs of clergy from African-American churches towards sexuality education and the provision of sexuality education in their churches. METHODS: A pilot study was designed to survey a convenience sample of clergy leaders from African-American churches about their young adolescent members. The survey asked about priority health topics, prevalence of sexual and drug risk behavior and the clergy's desire for health education programs. The churches were located in a county (1990 population approximately 200,000, 40% African-American) in the southeastern United States. RESULTS: The respondents' highest priority issues were drugs, violence, HIV/AIDS, pregnancy and alcohol. Many (76%) had discussed one or more of these issues in church. All respondents wanted additional health seminars for their adolescents, though some clergy (30%) excluded some sexual topics (i.e., anal sex, bisexuality, homosexuality, masturbation, oral sex). Only 6% would make condoms available in their churches, but all would allow contraceptive education. CONCLUSIONS: Many African-American churches are open to including sexuality education among their health education offerings for young adolescents. The church should be considered as a potential forum for providing comprehensive sexuality education for African-American adolescents.

The epidemiology of adolescent homicide in North Carolina from 1990 to 1995.

BACKGROUND: Rates of homicides by adolescents under age 18 years tripled from 1984 to 1994. Most studies report data on urban adolescents and young adults as a single age group (age 15-24 years), but homicide characteristics among adolescents, especially those younger than 15 years, may differ from those of young adults. OBJECTIVE: To describe the homicide characteristics among adolescents age 11 to 18 years in North Carolina from 1990 to 1995. METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive analysis of adolescent homicides using the medical examiner database. Police interviews provided additional information for cases from 1993 to 1995. RESULTS: There were 419 victims from 1990 to 1995 (average annual rate: 9.7 per 100000 adolescents; 9.9 in urban counties, 7.1 in rural). Victims were mostly ages 15 to 18 years (85%), male (79%), and black (76%); 48% lagged behind in school, and, by police report, 40% had a criminal record. Only 23% of the identified perpetrators were strangers. Firearms (59% were handguns) were used in 83% of homicides. Proportionally more younger adolescents (age 11-14 years) were killed by means other than firearms than 15- to 18-year-olds (chi2 = 24.2, P = .007). Drug-related motives (23%) were most common, followed by non-drug-related altercations (20%) and retaliations (17%). CONCLUSIONS: Proportionally more North Carolina adolescents than urban young adults (ages 15-24 years) were killed by firearms (83% vs. 75%). Proportionally fewer adolescents were killed by police, strangers, or intimate partners. Interventions should include reducing access to firearms and drugs, and helping adolescents develop nonviolent strategies to resolve disputes. Efforts should be focused on adolescents who lag behind in school and have criminal records.